Russia is likely to deploy hypersonic Kinzhal (Killjoy) missiles to the territory of Belarus - British intelligence

British intelligence has published a photo of two MiG-31K aircraft, which are probably stationed at the Belarusian airfield Machulyshi.

Next to them there is a large canister. 

"It is likely that the canister is associated with the AS-24 KILLJOY air-launched ballistic missile, a large munition which the MiG-31K variant is adapted to carry," the intelligence service says.

Previously, these missiles were not launched from the territory of Belarus. 

At the same time, intelligence officers note that the launch of Kinzhal from the territory of Belarus will not significantly affect the course of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The missiles have a claimed range of over 2,000 kilometres; that is, fly all over Ukraine, even if launched from the territory of the Russian Federation. 

Russia "has likely carried out the deployment mainly to send a message to the West and to portray Belarus as increasingly complicit in the war," the intelligence believes.

Photo: Dmitriy Pichugin | Wikipedia